Huerta's Fall Near. See End Of Crisis.

New York Times 100 years ago today, July 22, 1913:
Washington Expects President to Name Ambassador at Once to New Government.
TO SOUND REVOLUTIONISTS
Seek Assurance of Their Power to Protect Americans — May Be Recognized Now as Belligerents.
Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON, July 21.— Mexican affairs are nearing a serious crisis, according to reports that have been coming to the Wilson Administration for several days. According to this information the Huerta Government is on its last legs, and the opinion that prevails in official circles seems to be that the present regime in the southern republic will soon end. One report current in the capital to-day was that two weeks might see Huerta overthrown.
    There is reason to believe that President Wilson himself has been impressed by these reports concerning the critical conditions in Mexico, which are known to come from sources in which the principal officers of the Administration have great confidence.
    Another phase of the situation that cropped out to-day was a gathering impression that Henry Lane Wilson, Ambassador to Mexico, who is on his way here to confer with President Wilson and Secretary Bryan, would not return to his post in an official capacity.
    While the remarks of officials on which this impression is based were guarded, enough was said to give a distinct idea that it had already been determined that Mr. Wilson would not be sent back to Mexico.
    Neither the White House nor the State Department vouchsafed any authoritative statement on these two matters. The only thing forthcoming was an official denial issued by Mr. Tumulty, the President's secretary, that the President had said he would not recognize the Huerta Government and that it would not last a year, as asserted in a New York evening paper. Mr. Tumulty's statement read:
    On his attention being called to the following statements appearing in certain afternoon newspapers: (1) That the President had stated that he would not recognize the Huerta administration and that it would not last a year; (2) that the President had stated that this country would establish a protectorate over all Central American countries to guard the Panama Canal, Secretary Tumulty stated that there was absolutely no foundation in truth for either of the above statements, and emphatically denied that the President had expressed any opinion to-day or at any other time regarding the Huerta administration or its stability, or stated any intention as to its recognition.

Prepare to Sound Rebels.
    As indicative of the Administration's belief that the Huerta Government is in a precarious position it is known that officials are preparing to make inquiries to ascertain the ability of the revolutionary leaders to provide a stable Government in Mexico should they come into power after Huerta has been ousted.
    It is doubted that Gov. Caranza of Coahuila, who is looked upon as the real leader of the revolutionary forces, has yet been approached, directly or indirectly, in behalf of the President Wilson to ascertain what assurances he could give that law and order would be established in the Mexican territory, and that the interests of American citizens would be protected should he become President of the republic.
    Gov. Carranza's agent here, H. Perez Romero, is understood to be ready to furnish such information as the Administration would require should it be deemed wise to enter into negotiations with the Constitutionalists.
    Developments along this line to-day suggested that President Wilson was contemplating granting belligerent rights to the Constitutionalists, without regard to whether the Huerta administration remained in power or not. Mr. Romero recently sent a communication to Secretary Bryan requesting that belligerent rights be granted to the Constitutionalist party or that the privileges extended to the Huerta Government to import munitions of war into Mexico from the United States be rescinded. The granting of belligerent rights would carry with it the extension of the neutrality laws to the Constitutionalist authority and enable the rebel agents in this country to send arms and ammunition and other things required by the revolutionary forces across the border without restriction by the United States troops and civil authorities.
    There was a noticeable freedom at the State Department to-day in giving out the substance of dispatches received from Mexico. Hitherto there has been a general withholding of such news, and the change of policy is evident, whatever its meaning may be.
    John Bassett Moore, counsellor of the department and Acting Secretary of State in the absence of Secretary Bryan, indicated, however, that no modification of the Administration's policy toward Mexico was involved. But it is apparent that the department news from Consuls in Mexico is hereafter to be made public freely and fully.

Prepared to Confront Ambassador.
    It is believed that the purpose behind this course of publicity is to confront Ambassador Wilson with evidence that the Huerta Government is rapidly losing control in all the States of Mexico, and that the Ambassador must give an explanation of his recommendation or expression of belief that Huerta should be recognized.
    Interest in the approaching conference between the President, the Secretary of State, and the Ambassador increases as the event draws near. Mr. Wilson will be asked to explain also how the diplomatic representatives in Mexico of European powers came to join in urging that the United States recognize Huerta, and why they did so when it was daily becoming clearer that the revolutionary movement was gradually gaining in all parts of Mexico.
    In the consular reports of the situation and the course taken by the diplomats, President Wilson, it is expected, will find justification for deciding that Ambassador Wilson ought not to return to his post. Whether this will result in the selection of a successor is not known.
    The policy of President Wilson is not to recognize the Mexican Government by accrediting a new Ambassador to it until a Government has been established in accordance with the requirements of the Mexican Constitution as viewed here.
    Ambassador Wilson was at Havana to-night, and one indication of the desire to hurry him to Washington was seen in a request by Secretary Bryan to Surgeon General Blue of the Public Health Service to expedite the Ambassador's passage through quarantine at Havana and Key West.

No Military Preparations.
    With the information that was allowed to leak out concerning the crisis in Mexico was coupled the statement that the United States was making no additional naval or military preparations.
    Stories of an impending collapse of the Huerta regime were talked over freely in official circles, though no official of the Administration would permit his name to be coupled with them. All information made public was with the stipulation that it should not be represented as reflecting the views of the Administration.
    According to one report, publication of the nature of the advices received by officials would probably precipitate the very crisis the dispatches forecast.
    All the advices received at the State Department to-day told of a general renewal of hostilities in all parts of Mexico, with increasing danger at points where Americans are residing or have interests.
    Fighting in the State of Vera Cruz, north and west of Tuxpam, is general, and many persons are fleeing into the city for safety.
    At Vera Cruz it is reported that marauders are operating in the outskirts of the city and have attacked an American plantation near Cordoba. From Torreon and other points inland Americans have sent word that they are still safe, but the food supply is getting scant. Between Torreon and Monterey over 200 railroad bridges have been destroyed.
    Nothing was heard to-day from the Consul at Frontera, who is reported to have asked that a warship be sent there to protect Americans.
    Communication from Tampico with San Luis Potosi and the interior has been cut off by wrecking freight trains and burning a number of bridges. Here and there the Constitutional leaders are announcing their determination to protect Americans, but great disorder prevails and plundering is going on everywhere.
    Mr. O'Shaughnessy. Chargé D'Affaires at the City of Mexico, telegraphed today that the Huerta Government had announced its intention not to permit a demonstration on the arrival of the new Japanese Minister, because it would be interpreted as anti-American.